On January 1, 1915, for the people of Germany, it was a day worthy of celebration. Following their victory in the Great War, the profits gained during the conflict were gradually being absorbed. The German populace began to enjoy the fruits of war, a development that left them immensely satisfied.
The military, particularly the senior officers, had long anticipated this day.
After the cessation of large-scale hostilities, QinTian, along with the towering figures of the Imperial military, began deliberating on the list of promotions. However, the list remained withheld for some time, causing great anticipation and impatience among the officers.
It is said that a soldier who does not aspire to become a general is no true soldier. Likewise, a general who does not aspire to become a marshal is no true general. For those officers eligible for promotion to the rank of Marshal, this occasion held particular significance.
Fortunately, QinTian did not make them wait long. On this very New Year's Day, the promotion ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace.
By 9 a.m., generals from the Imperial Army, Navy, and Air Force had gathered within the palace. The hall gleamed with the luster of stars. Were one to throw a bomb into that room, it would undoubtedly cause immense loss to the German military.
Naturally, security was of the utmost importance on such an occasion. Bringing dangerous items like bombs into the palace was utterly unthinkable.
Before the ceremony began, QinTian delivered a speech, praising the efforts and contributions of the Imperial soldiers who had fought so valiantly to ensure the empire's victory. Had it not been for their courageous sacrifices, the German Empire would have had no hope of winning the war. QinTian held deep admiration for these soldiers, whose indomitable spirits and fearlessness in battle were truly remarkable.
Then came the momentous part of the ceremony. Chancellor Bilo began to read out the promotion list.
"Admiral Count Tirpitz, Minister of the Imperial Navy, is hereby promoted to Imperial Marshal!" Bilo announced loudly.
Previously, Tirpitz had held the rank of Fleet Admiral. In recognition of his instrumental role in founding the Imperial Navy, he was now elevated to the prestigious rank of Imperial Marshal.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Marshal Count Tirpitz exclaimed with heartfelt emotion as he received the Marshal's baton from QinTian. The rank of Imperial Marshal was the highest military honor in Germany, and even Tirpitz could not hide his elation. Though he was soon to retire, he felt immense pride in achieving this pinnacle of military distinction.
"Marshal von Falkenhayn, Minister of the Imperial Army and Chief of Staff, is hereby promoted to Imperial Marshal!" Chancellor Bilo continued.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Marshal von Falkenhayn responded, equally moved. Unlike Tirpitz, Falkenhayn was much younger and, upon being promoted to Imperial Marshal, would continue to serve the army for many years to come. In many ways, his illustrious career was just beginning.
Thus far, only these two men had qualified for the promotion to Imperial Marshal.
Next came the promotions to Imperial Army Marshal, where a large number of corps commanders were elevated to this high rank, with the notable exception of the Duke of Württemberg, who had participated in a coup.
Among the promoted were the commanders of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 9th Army Corps, all of whom were promoted to the rank of Imperial Army Marshal.
In the Navy, Admiral Reinhard Scheer, Commander of the High Seas Fleet, was promoted to Fleet Marshal.
Although the Imperial Navy had made significant contributions during the war, most of its officers had been of lower rank prior to this ceremony. Therefore, only Admiral Scheer, who had held the rank of Admiral, was promoted directly to Fleet Marshal.
As for the Imperial Air Force, the highest-ranking officer was General von Zepplin, who was still a Lieutenant General. Given the Air Force's recent formation, it was clear that a promotion to Marshal was not yet feasible. Nevertheless, Lieutenant General Zepplin was elevated to General.
Following the Marshal promotions, a large number of officers were promoted to the rank of General. Many of these officers had distinguished themselves during the recent conflict, and their hard-earned recognition was long overdue.
Notable among them were Lieutenant Generals Ludendorff of the 8th Army Corps and von Zepplin of the Air Force, as well as Vice Admirals Hippel and Spee, commanders of the High Seas Fleet and the Expeditionary Fleet, respectively. In total, over fifty officers were promoted to General, a significant honor, though many of them, due to their age, would be reassigned to more ceremonial roles, with fewer holding true power.
The promotion ceremony, held at the Imperial Palace, primarily focused on the elevations to Marshal and General. Promotions for lower ranks such as Lieutenant General and Major General were handled by the various branches of the military. Given the volume of promotions, QinTian simply did not have the time to oversee each one personally.
The result of the ceremony was that the military was highly satisfied with the promotions. However, as always, dissent lingered among those who had been overlooked. These voices of discontent were not the majority, and would have little impact on the broader system. Those who had not been promoted were largely relegated to less important posts.
The day after the ceremony, QinTian announced further appointments. Admiral Reinhard Scheer was appointed as the new Minister of the Imperial Navy, replacing Admiral Tirpitz, who would retire. Vice Admiral Hipple would now serve as the Commander of the Home Fleet, and Vice Admiral Spee would take command of the Pacific Fleet. Other fleet commanders were similarly reassigned.
Meanwhile, the Army underwent extensive restructuring. Many of the newly promoted Army Marshals, due to their age, retired from active service, making way for younger leaders to take command of the new armies. Under QinTian's direction, the Army was poised for reform.